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Welcome
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11.1
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
- Get started overview
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro main window
- Projects
- Playback and navigation
- Tempo, key, and time signature
- Patches
- Arranging regions
- - Piano Roll Editor
  - Audio Track Editor
- Session Players
- Smart Controls
- Live Loops
- Mixing
- Apple Loops
- Smart Tempo
- Sharing
- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
- Hardware connection overview
- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
- Tracks overview
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
- Overview
- Use the metronome
- Using loops and other media in Logic Pro
- Bookmark folders in the All Files Browser
- Import compressed audio files
- Arranging overview
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- - Remove silent passages
  - Uses for Remove Silence
- Create groove templates
- Overview
- Select audio regions
- Cut, copy, and paste audio regions
- Move audio regions
- Trim audio regions
- Split and join audio regions
- Snap edits to zero crossings
- Delete audio regions
- Use Flex Time and Pitch in the Logic Pro for Mac Audio Track Editor
- Use automation in the Audio Track Editor
- Overview
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Regenerate a Session Player performance
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions into MIDI or pattern regions
- Flex Time and Pitch overview
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
- Mixing overview
- - Channel strip types
  - Channel strip controls
- Set channel strip input format
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Reorder channel strips in the Mixer
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
- Automation overview
- Track automation vs. region automation
- Show automation curves
- Choose automation modes
- - Select, copy, and move automation
  - Delete automation
- Snap automation to grid positions
- Edit automation in the Automation Event List
- Write automation with external controllers
- Smart Controls overview
- Show Smart Controls for master effects
- Choose a Smart Control layout
- Automatic MIDI controller assignment
- Map screen controls automatically
- Map screen controls
- Edit mapping parameters
- Use parameter mapping graphs
- Open the plug-in window for a screen control
- Rename a screen control
- Use articulation IDs to change articulations
- Assign hardware controls to screen controls
- Compare Smart Control edits with saved settings
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- - Record to cells
  - Record and edit takes in cells
- Change loop settings for cells
- How the Live Loops grid and Tracks area interact
- Edit cells
- Edit scenes
- Work in the Cell Editor
- Bounce cells
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops with other devices
- Step Sequencer overview
- Use Step Sequencer with Drum Machine Designer
- Record Step Sequencer patterns live
- Step record Step Sequencer patterns
- Load and save patterns
- Modify pattern playback
- Edit steps
- Edit rows
- Step Sequencer inspector
- Customize Step Sequencer
- Global changes overview
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
- Control project volume
- Overview
- Add notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
- Share a score
- Sharing overview
- Share songs to the Music app
- Share songs to Voice Memos
- Share songs using AirDrop
- Share songs using MailDrop
- Share a project to GarageBand for iOS
- Share a project to Logic Pro for iPad
- Overview of surround and spatial audio
- - Overview of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
  - - Bed tracks and object tracks
    - Rendering a Dolby Atmos mix in Logic Pro for Mac
- - Surround Panner overview
  - Surround Panner parameters
- - 3D Object Panner overview
  - 3D Object Panner parameters
- - Bounce surround audio files
  - Export ADM BWF files
- Video and synchronization overview
Touch Bar shortcuts
- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- - Environment Layers overview
  - Create, name, delete, and switch layers
- Customize the Environment
- - Effects overview
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- - Instruments introduction
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
  - Use multi-output instruments
- - Alchemy overview
  - Alchemy interface overview
  - Alchemy Name bar
  - Alchemy file locations
  - - Preset browser overview
    - Browser results list
  - - Main filter controls
    - Filter types
  - Alchemy master voice section
  - Alchemy Extended parameters
- - Drum Kit Designer overview
  - Edit pane
  - Use Drum Kit Designer
  - Extended parameters
  - Drum Kit Designer mappings
- - Drum Machine Designer overview
  - Drum Machine Designer interface
  - Kit controls
  - - Pad controls bar
    - Use pad controls
  - Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls
  - Kit Piece Tone and Effect Smart Controls
- - Drum Synth overview
  - Drum Synth Kicks
  - Drum Synth Snares and Claps
  - Drum Synth Percussion
  - Drum Synth Hats and Cymbals
- - ES1 overview
  - Global parameters
  - - Filter parameters
    - Overdrive the filter
  - Amplifier parameters
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - ES2 overview
  - ES2 interface overview
  - - Use the dynamic stage
    - Enhance sounds with the Sine Level control
  - ES2 integrated effects processor controls
  - Use ES2 in Surround mode
  - Extended parameters
  - - Use randomization parameters
    - Restrict randomization
- - EFM1 overview
  - Modulation parameters
  - Global parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Create random sounds
  - Extended parameters
  - Assign MIDI controllers
- - ES E overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Extended parameters
- - ES M overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - Filter and filter envelope controls
  - Level envelope and output controls
  - Extended parameters
- - ES P overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope and level controls
  - Integrated effects processor
  - Extended parameters
- - - EVOC 20 PS overview
    - Vocoder basics
  - EVOC 20 PS interface
  - Analysis controls
  - (U/V) detection parameters
  - Formant filter controls
  - Modulation parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Vocoder history
  - EVOC 20 block diagram
- - Quick Sampler overview
  - Add audio to Quick Sampler
  - Quick Sampler waveform display
  - Use Flex in Quick Sampler
  - - Mod Matrix pane
    - LFO controls
  - Quick Sampler Pitch controls
  - Quick Sampler Filter controls
  - Quick Sampler filter types
  - Quick Sampler Amp controls
  - Quick Sampler extended parameters
- - Retro Synth overview
  - Analog oscillator controls
  - Sync oscillator controls
  - - Table oscillator parameters
    - Use the Wavetable menu
  - FM oscillator controls
  - Filter controls
  - Filter types
  - Amp and effect controls
  - Global and controller settings
  - Extended parameters
- - Sample Alchemy overview
  - Interface overview
  - Add source material
  - Edit mode
  - Play modes
  - Source overview
  - Synthesis modes
  - Granular controls
  - Additive effects
  - Additive effect controls
  - Spectral effect
  - Spectral effect controls
  - Filter module
  - Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filters
  - Comb PM filter
  - Downsampler filter
  - FM filter
  - Envelope generators
  - Mod Matrix
  - Modulation routing
  - Motion mode
  - Trim mode
  - More menu
- - Sampler overview
  - Load and save instruments in Sampler
  - Sampler articulation handling
  - Sampler memory management
  - Sampler extended parameters
- - Sculpture overview
  - Sculpture interface
  - - Pickup parameters
    - Spread controls
  - Global parameters
  - Amplitude envelope parameters
  - Use the Waveshaper
  - Filter parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Use surround range and diversity
  - Define MIDI controllers
  - Extended parameters
- - Studio Bass overview
  - Main view parameters
  - Details view parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - String and position MIDI Out channel assignments
- - Studio Horns overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- Studio Piano
- - Studio Strings overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- - Ultrabeat overview
  - Ultrabeat interface
  - Synthesizer section overview
  - Filter section controls
  - Distortion circuit controls
- - Utility instruments
  - External Instrument
  - Klopfgeist
- - Vintage B3 overview
- - Vintage Clav overview
  - Vintage Clav interface
  - Extended parameters
  - - D6 Clavinet history
    - D6 mechanical details
- - Vintage Electric Piano overview
  - Vintage Electric Piano interface
  - - Model controls
    - Pitch controls
  - Extended parameters
  - - Rhodes models
    - Hohner and Wurlitzer models
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - Vintage Mellotron overview
  - Vintage Mellotron controls
- - Legacy instruments overview
  - - Bass
    - Church Organ
    - Drum Kits
    - Electric Clav(inet)
    - Electric Piano
    - Guitar
    - Horns
    - Piano
    - Sound Effects
    - Strings
    - Tuned Percussion
    - Voice
    - Woodwind
    - Tonewheel Organ
- - Synthesizer basics overview
  - Synthesizer fundamentals
Glossary
Copyright

Work with Live Loops cells in Logic Pro for Mac

You can add regions or loops to cells in the Live Loops grid, as long as the region or loop matches the track type for the track containing the cell. For example, you can add audio regions to cells on audio tracks, and MIDI or pattern regions to cells in rows on software instrument tracks.

After adding Session Player regions or pattern regions to the grid, you can convert them to MIDI cells to allow for precise editing of notes and make use of functions not available in Step Sequencer. You can also extract loops from audio cells, with optimal loop start and end points set by Logic Pro.

In addition to adding regions to cells, you can record to Live Loops cells, and record a Live Loops performance as regions to the Tracks area. You can also copy cells to the Tracks area, as well as copy and paste scenes to the playhead position in the Tracks area. When copying cells to the Tracks area, take care to match the track type to the cell type (for example, you can paste audio cells only to audio tracks).

When you add an audio file without tempo information to a cell, Logic Pro analyzes the tempo of the audio file. You can edit the tempo information using the Edit Smart Tempo and Edit Transients commands in the Cell Editor Edit menu.

If you plan to record audio without a constant tempo to a cell, it is recommended that you record the audio to an audio track in the Tracks area using the Smart Tempo functions in Logic Pro. Once the audio region is tagged with correct tempo information, you can add the region to an audio cell and have it play at a constant tempo.

Working with Session Player regions and cells

Session Player cells behave in much the same way as Session Player regions in the Tracks area. The main difference is that Session Player cells follow only region chords in the cell.

When you copy or drag Session Player regions from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid, the source of the chords in the resulting Session Player cells is determined by the Pitch Source parameter in the Region inspector. For example, if the Pitch Source parameter for a Session Player region is set to Chord Track and you drag that region to the Live Loops grid, the chords from the Chord track are added to the Session Player cell.

You can also change the pitch source of a Session Player region by choosing Follow Global Chord Track or Follow Region Chords in the Chords menu in the Session Player Editor. See Session Player overview in Logic Pro and Overview of chords in Logic Pro.

Add a region from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

Drag a region from the Tracks area to a cell of the same type in the Live Loops grid.
Drag a region from the Tracks area to an empty area of the grid, below the existing tracks.
A new track of the appropriate type (audio or software instrument) is created, and the cell is added to the new track. The new track has the same channel strip settings as the original track.

When you drag a region from the Tracks area to the Live Loops grid, Logic Pro places a copy of the region in the cell. The original region in the Tracks area remains unchanged. If the cell already contains a region, it is replaced with the new region.

Create new tracks when dragging multiple items to the Live Loops grid

When you drag multiple items (for example, cells, regions, Apple Loops, or files from the Finder) to the empty area below the Live Loops grid, you can create a new track for each individual item.

Press Shift when dragging the items to the empty area below the Live Loops grid.

The items are arranged vertically and a new track is created for each individual item when you drop them below the Live Loops grid. Press Shift again before you drop the items to arrange them horizontally and add them to a single new track.

Copy and paste regions to cells in the Live Loops grid

In Logic Pro, select one or more regions in the Tracks area, then choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C).
Select a cell.
Choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).

If you copy one region, you can paste it only to a cell on a track of the same type. If you copy multiple regions, you can paste them only to cells on the same tracks where the original regions are located.

Copy regions within the cycle range to Live Loops

Control-click the cycle area and choose Copy Cycle to Live Loops Scene from the shortcut menu.

Copy regions to Live Loops based on selection

Using the Copy to Live Loops Scene key command in Logic Pro, you can copy various combinations of regions to new scenes, depending on what you have selected in the Tracks area. This is especially useful for populating a Live Loops grid in an existing project containing many different regions, sections, or markers. You can copy any of the following to Live Loops:

Marquee selection: Copies the content on each track between the left and right edges of the marquee selection to the first empty scene.
One or more regions: Copies the selected regions to a single cell in the first empty scene.
Cycle range: If the cycle area is on and nothing is selected, copies the section between the locators to a single cell in the first empty scene.
Markers: If Cycle mode is off and one or markers are selected, copies the regions between the start or end points for each selected marker to a new scene. Arrange markers have priority over normal markers.
All Arrange markers: If Cycle mode is off and nothing is selected but the project contains arrange markers, copies all arrange markers to new scenes. This is a good way to quickly create a Live Loops scene for each section of a project.

In Logic Pro, determine what you want to copy to Live Loops (marquee, region, cycle, or marker).
Choose Edit > Copy to Live Loops Scene or use the Copy to Live Loops Scene key command (Command-Home or Command-Fn-Left Arrow).
The exact wording of the command in the menu changes depending on what you select.

Import an audio file to an empty cell

In Logic Pro, Control-click an empty audio cell and choose Add Audio File (or press Shift-Command-I).
A new audio cell is created containing the audio file.

Convert Session Player and pattern cells to MIDI cells

You can convert Session Player cells and pattern cells to MIDI cells, to edit individual notes of a Session Player performance or to perform edits not possible in Step Sequencer.

In Logic Pro, Control-click the Session Player or pattern cell you want to convert and choose Convert > Convert to MIDI Cell.

Extract loops from audio cells

Logic Pro can analyze the musical and sonic characteristics of a longer audio file in an audio cell and extract the best sounding loops to empty cells (up to 10) on the same track. You can choose the length of loops you want to extract, or let Logic Pro extract the best loops of any size.

By default, Logic Pro examines only the detected downbeat positions for potential loop start points. However, you can deactivate this setting to let loop points be set at other musically meaningful positions. You can always manually change the resulting loop points, if necessary.

To work effectively, loop extraction requires audio containing repetitions and accurate tempo information. To get the best results, check the cell in the Smart Tempo Editor before extracting loops and determine whether they show accurate beat mapping.

The loop extraction algorithm looks for loop points that deliver a smooth transition from loop end to loop start. Those loop points may not necessarily coincide with the musical structure of the analyzed audio.

In Logic Pro, Control-click an audio cell and choose any of the following from the Extract Loops submenu:
- Set Optimal Full Loop: Extracts the longest loop within the selected cell.
- Extract Best 2-Bar Loops: Determines the best two-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
- Extract Best 4-Bar Loops: Determines the best four-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
- Extract Best 8-Bar Loops: Determines the best eight-bar loops and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
- Extract Best Loops of Any Size: Determines the best loops of any size throughout the audio file and copies them to the next empty cells to the right.
To consider all musically meaningful positions for potential loop start points, not just downbeats, make sure Limit Loop Points to Downbeats is turned off in the Extract Loops submenu.

Loop extraction is disabled if:

The cell is empty or contains multiple regions.
The region in the cell is shorter than two bars.
Flex & Follow in the Cell inspector is turned off.
The cell contains Apple Loops or untagged loops.
Multiple cells are selected.

Create cells

You can create new cells and then edit them in the Cell Editor or record audio and MIDI. Software instrument tracks can contain MIDI and pattern cells.

In Logic Pro, do any of the following:
- To create an audio cell: Control-click an empty cell on an audio track, then choose Create Cell.
- To create a MIDI cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create MIDI Cell.
- To create a pattern cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create Pattern Cell.
- To create a Session Player cell: Control-click an empty cell on a software instrument track, then choose Create Session Player Cell.

Add a cell from the Live Loops grid to the Tracks area

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

Drag a cell to a track of the same type in the Tracks area.
Drag a cell to an empty area of the Tracks area, below the existing tracks.
A new track of the appropriate type (audio or software instrument) is created, and the region is added to the new track. The new track has the same channel strip settings as the original track.

When you drag a cell from the Live Loops grid to the Tracks area, Logic Pro places a copy of the cell as a region in the Tracks area. The original cell in the Live Loops grid remains unchanged. If a track already contains a region at the position where you place the cell, it is replaced or overlapped with the resulting new region.

Copy a scene to the Tracks area

In Logic Pro, in the Tracks area, set the playhead at the position where you want to paste cells in the scene as regions.
In the Live Loops grid, Control-click the scene and choose one of the following:
- To shift the content of all tracks right of the playhead position by the length of the inserted scene: Choose Insert Scene at Playhead (or press Command-End or Command-Fn-Right Arrow).
- To copy the scene to the playhead position: Choose Copy Scene to Playhead.
  WARNING: When you copy a scene to the playhead position, any existing regions are overwritten or overlapped.

Create an Apple Loop from a cell

You can create Apple Loops from your own audio and software instrument cell recordings. When you create an Apple Loop from a cell, it’s added to the Apple Loops library and appears in the Loop Browser, so that you can use it in other projects.

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
- Control-click a cell, then choose Export > Add to Loop Library from the shortcut menu.
- Select a cell, then choose File > Export > Region to Loop Library.

The Add Region to Apple Loops Library window opens, providing several options for the Apple Loop. See Create your own Apple Loops.

Extract stems from an audio cell with Stem Splitter

You can split an audio cell such as a band recording into separate stems. You can extract stems for vocals, bass, drums, and other instrumental parts.

Stem Splitter is available on Macs with Apple silicon. See Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter.

In the Live Loops grid in Logic Pro, Control-click the audio cell, then choose Stem Splitter.
In the Stem Splitter dialog, checkboxes for all four stems (Vocals, Drums, Bass, and Other) are selected by default. Deselect the checkboxes for any stems you do not want to extract.
Click Split.

A summing stack is created below the track with the selected audio cell. The subtracks of the summing stack contain cells with the extracted stems. You can solo individual stems using the Solo buttons in the subtrack headers, and you can move, copy, or edit each part in the same way as any audio cell.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Control Surfaces Support Guide: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac